ObjectiveTo enhance the production of phenolic compounds during barley germination using chitooligosaccharide as an elicitor to improve the antioxidant capacity of malt.ResultsWhen used as an elicitor for barley germination, chitooligosaccharide with a molecular weight of 3kDa, added at 10mg/kg barley kernels during the first steeping cycle, led to the maximum production of phenolic compounds. Compared with the control with no chitooligosaccharide added to the steeping water, the total phenolic content was increased by 54.8%. Increases in the total phenolic content of the barley malt occurred when chitooligosaccharide was applied during the first or both the first and the second steeping cycles. Thus the antioxidant capacity of barley malt was increased significantly by adding chitooligosaccharide during the steeping process.ConclusionApplying chitooligosaccharides during the steeping process increased the content of phenolic compounds thus improving the antioxidant capacity of the barley malt.